in2ICU

I am an ICU nurse with 2+ years in the unit. Last year I was looking at going back to school and needed to take Organic Chemistry and Physics. I scoured this site and everywhere else looking for info on a good place to get these courses considering...

Hi All, Are mittens, used alone, considered a restraint at your facility? I have worked at a couple of major magnet-designated medical centers and they have opposing views on classifying the use of mittens as a restraint. One says they are, and the...

I'm an adult ICU RN/CCRN (MICU and SICU jobs) but am about to have a baby. What is a good reference for infants? Hoping to find something that is above and beyond the layperson's level. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

My main goal is just to know a bit more that ties back to physiology/pathophysiology and how that differs from adults. Sadly, I don't have a mom to ask; my parents died a few years back and my husband's mom had a stroke last year. We (my husband a...

I was considering CRNA, yes, but not exclusively. I haven't decided how to proceed just yet - will let things settle into the new year and make a choice to move ahead or stay put for a while longer. The rate for online independent study at BYU was...

BYU Physics was around $450 OSU Ochem was right around $1,000. Gross, I know. It's hard to believe these are the going rates for education these days. The UNE Ochem course (the one I dropped) was around $1,400 I think.

Hi, I wanted to add my input as a newly passed CCRN. I looked on this site for lots of tips and hopefully I can add a few as well. I scored 111/125. In school I was a 4.0 student and have experience in MICU and SICU. This is the first exam I've e...

I have worked at two equally well recognized teaching hospitals in an ICU setting. Most everything is the same, but I've noticed a difference in how pupil size is assessed. Hosp#1 - Assess size of pupil as it reacts to pen light so as to eliminate...

In response to the above replies: But how do you standardize on "regular lighting"? Day vs night, different light switches (we have about 8 lighting options in each room - it's ridiculous), if pt's eyes were open or closed prior to exam? That's wh...

I was a tech before I became a nurse. Duties vary a lot with that title. However, regardless of the requirements, I'd say there are 2 viewpoints you should consider: A) Being a good tech (so you can get experience), and B) just actually doing a rea...

I am doing the Gasparis DVD and PASS CCRN regimen as well. My question is about the cardiac portion of the CCRN - specifically 12-lead ECGs. Did anyone see a lot of this on the exam? I am very strong in pulmonary, renal, endocrine and moderate in...

I should also add that the facility that considers mittens to be restraints is reporting them as part of restraints use in comparison to other Magnet hospitals (their numbers are considerably higher than the national average). I think the results a...

I look at the teacher's PPT to see what topics are covered. Then I go to the book and look at those topics specifically. The key is to understand those specific topics inside and out in relation to the general content in a chapter - even if you hav...

I remember the first time I just SAW a pt die (I was a tech) and it still sticks with me to this day. It was somewhat dramatic (a chatting lady who had a massive PE and was dead in 30 mins). I thought about it every time I went to the hospital for ...

-A G-tube is the same as PEG tube (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy). -If the liquid is clear it could also be stomach acid, and the greenish color is a common finding too (in small quantities, i.e. -The nature of the G-tube is that a dome or ba...

Hi- Just wondering if there is a general acceptance for using Definity/perflutren for echo contrast if a pt lists allergy to IV contrast dye. Obviously the nurse/MD should find out more about the allergy... iodine? what procedure? etc. My goal here...

I am in a MICU in a large teaching institution, towards the middle/end of orientation (new grad). I too have a lot of stuff in 3 different huge binders. We had brief classes that were specific for hemodynamics, ventilators and neuro, but the meds w...

I'm a fairly new nurse and have to print off/analyze ECG and CVP strips on a regular basis. I have been through critical care class and have many references, but I'm still not clear on something. When taking the mean of the A-wave, at what point i...

I should've also commented that I have never heard of the method you mentioned - is that common?

to aCRNAhopeful; Actually I do this every time I have someone with a central line setup, so almost every shift. Usually I'm OK with it because it's pretty clear, however when the darned C-wave is present it throws me off (luckily it's not that comm...

I'm a new grad that's 2 months into orientation and this is what was/would've been helpful for me with regard to prep before starting. ECGs - gotta know em. I spent a lot of time/energy on this at the start of my orientation that could've been bette...

I am a new grad (2 months exp.) and have all the above-mentioned reference books. I got them because they are highly recommended. However, at this point I find that I need more than a reference - I need explanations. When I come home with question...

If I see a significant change in UO I speak up and start a fluid bolus. Had a pt over the weekend who reliably put out an average of 125ml Q2hrs, then went to 45, then 20. Gave her fluids and it picked right up.

42.5 C (or 108.5 F). He wasn't my patient, but if my memory serves me correctly it was a street drug OD situation. His brain was cooked and he was terminally weaned the next day.

You pretty much covered it. As a tech I assisted in hundreds of central line and A-line placements as we do those quite often in my unit. Here are the details: As for prep, the doc has already gotten consent so I just remind pt what we are going to...